HistoricaLeigh: A Leigh Union Trail Blazer Down Under

Charles emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Dunedin, quickly becoming established as a master builder and undertaker. Unionism took up much of his time and in 1881 he helped found the Otago Trades and Labour Council and was elected as its first president.

Charles believed that the working man needed representation in Parliament and in 1882 he led a deputation to Christchurch, where he met with the recently formed Working Men's Political Association.

After going bankrupt in 1887 during the 1890s he concentrated on re-establishing his business, and by the turn of the century he was a prosperous man and father of 10, devoting himself to community affairs.

After his wife’s death in 1913 Charles went to one of his stepbrothers in Melbourne and called at several trades halls; being welcomed at each as one of the founders of the labour movement.

He represented Caversham ward on the Dunedin City Council from 1915 to 1917 and 1919 to 1921 and died at his home in Caversham in 1935.

This article is by Carole Mulroney of Leigh Lives - www.leighlives.co.uk
To read all of Carole's previous article of the History of our little town, click here